Fischer concludes Cyprus state visit after Nicosia talks

Austrian President Heinz Fischer wrapped up his three-day state visit to Cyprus on Saturday with a visit to UNFICYP and the Austrian contingent.

On Friday, he held official talks with his Cypriot counterpart Tassos Papadopoulos and delegations from both countries.

President Papadopoulos said that what impedes the opening of a crossing point at

Papadopoulos also said that during the talks, he reiterated Cyprus’gratitude to Austria for the principled stand that it has taken concerning the Cyprus problem.

On his part, replying to a question regarding developments in Turkey and Ankara’s path towards the EU, Fischer said, “there should be respect to the democratic principles. We hope to a peaceful arrangement of the problems that have arisen and we hope not to have any difficulties and a more intensive crisis in Turkey.
In such a case, which we deprecate, we will have to reexamine the issue.”

On his visit to Cyprus, he said, “I am happy to say that our bilateral relations are very, very good but it is an old experience of politics, that nothing can be so good that it cannot be even further continued and improved and that’s our common goal for the future.”

He said they will work on the economic cooperation between the two countries “and representatives of the Austrian business community will use this opportunity to make some proposals for projects of cooperation.”

Fischer said they spoke on the subject of introducing the Euro in Cyprus, next year and that Austria wishes Cyprus success on this important field.
After the talks, Papadopoulos presented his Austrian counterpart with the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III while Fischer bestowed the Cyprus President with the Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria.